Scriptwriting Script Formatting and Industry Standards 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the standard font and size used in US feature film screenplays?
- Courier 12-point (Correct answer)
- Times New Roman 12-point
- Arial 11-point
- Helvetica 10-point
Correct answer: Courier 12-point
Courier 12-point is the industry standard font for screenplays because its fixed-width characters maintain the one-page-per-minute timing convention.
Question 2: In standard US screenplay format, approximately how long should one page of script equal in screen time?
- One minute (Correct answer)
- Two minutes
- Thirty seconds
- Three minutes
Correct answer: One minute
A properly formatted screenplay page equals approximately one minute of screen time, making page count a reliable estimate of a film's running length.
Question 3: What does 'FADE IN:' indicate at the start of a screenplay?
- The beginning of the script, transitioning from black to the first image (Correct answer)
- A dissolve between two scenes
- A flashback sequence beginning
- A chapter break in the story
Correct answer: The beginning of the script, transitioning from black to the first image
FADE IN: is the conventional opening transition of a screenplay, signaling the emergence of the first image from darkness.
Question 4: What is a 'slug line' (scene heading) in a screenplay?
- The line indicating INT./EXT., location, and time of day for each scene (Correct answer)
- A line of action description following a scene transition
- The character name centered above dialogue
- A title card inserted between scenes
Correct answer: The line indicating INT./EXT., location, and time of day for each scene
A slug line identifies whether a scene is interior or exterior, the location, and the time of day, formatted in ALL CAPS.
Question 5: What is the correct format for a character name in US screenplay dialogue?
- Centered on the page in ALL CAPS, positioned above their dialogue (Correct answer)
- Left-aligned in bold next to a colon
- Italicized on the same line as their first word of dialogue
- Underlined above the action line
Correct answer: Centered on the page in ALL CAPS, positioned above their dialogue
Character names in dialogue blocks are centered, written in ALL CAPS, and placed directly above the character's spoken lines.
Question 6: What does 'CONT'D' mean when placed next to a character name in a screenplay?
- The character continues speaking after an action line interruption (Correct answer)
- The character continues their role from a previous scene
- A continued flashback is occurring
- A scene continues without a cut
Correct answer: The character continues speaking after an action line interruption
CONT'D indicates the same character resumes speaking after an intervening action line or page break, clarifying continuous speech.
Scriptwriting Script Formatting and Industry Standards 1
What is the standard font and size used in US feature film screenplays?